Collapsible support



Filed Feb. 3, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet IN VEN TOR. IE Sta/er ATTORNEY 29, 1929. s ov 1,733,172

COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT.

Filed Feb. 3, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Stove!" BY f ATTORNEY Oct. 29, 1929.

H. F. STOVER v GOLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT Filed Feb. 5, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. EZ' Sta/er TTORNEY Patented Oct. 29, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERBERT F, STOVER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR TO AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT Application filed February 3, 1927.

This invention relates to a collapsible arrangement, more particularly adapted for use in connection with stands, platforms or the like.

An object of the invention consists in providing a collapsible support which is adapted to be placed in an extended position for use, and in a folded position when not in use, so that it may be entirely out of the Way.

A further object consists in the provision of an arrangement of the above character which shall be comparatively inexpensive and simple in construction and eflicient in opera tion. These and further objects will be apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which a certain embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 is the top plan view of the improved arrangement in an extended position; Fig. 2 isan end View thereof showing the support in an eX- tended position and ready for use in dotted lines and in folded or collapsed position in full lines. Fig. 3 is a perspective View illushating the support in connection with a'cable balcony. i

In Fig. 3 of the drawings,theimproved support is shown as applied to a cable balcony for the purpose of illustration. This cable balcony is of the well known type which is commonly attached to poles and is used by linemen as a platform in connection with work on cable terminal boxes mounted on the poles. Binding posts are contained within the cable terminal boxes and are mounted on panels so that the vertical series of such binding posts extend'from the top tothebottom of said boxes; Thebinding posts positioned at the upper portion of the cable terminal boxes are frequently so high that they cannot be reached from a platform ordinarily employed with the balcony. An auxiliary platform is needed in such cases, and for this purpose the present support is particularly adapted.

The support comprises a plurality of parallel links in the form of angular brackets. The upper pair of links, 5, 5, and the lower Serial No. 165,688.

pair of links, 6, 6, have an opening at one of their ends through which bolts, 7, 7 may pass to pivotally associate said links with framework-or other means to support the links. These links are adapted to be placed in a horizontal extended position or a vertical collapsed or folded position. and, in either position, the links lie in practically the same parallel relation with respect to each other. The opposite ends of the links are also provided with openings which coincide with'openings in a supporting member, 8, and bolts 9, 9, pass through these openings to pivotally connect the links and supporting member. The

member 8 may be of substantially U-shape and the closed end thereof rests upon a supporting surface when the links are in an extended position and folds up with the links when they are in a collapsed position.

The upper pair of links are each provided with a flange 10 which may be extended out wardly therefromas illustrated. The flanges serve to support a platform 11 which is suitably fixed thereto by bolts or the like. When the links are in an extended position this platform lies in a horizontal position andp'rovidesa surface upon which to stand. The U- shaped member 8 is positioned directly below the plat-form and supports it when it is in extended position. The plat-form 11 assumes a vertical position when the links are cal lapsed, as is more clearly indicated in full lines in Fig. 2.

In the application of the improved support to a cable balcony which is shown in the present instance by way of illustration, the bolt-s 7 pivotally secure the upper and lower pairs of links to uprights 12, 12. Themembers-;12, 12, are attached in any suitable fashion to framework including a horozontal base13. The basemay be securedto a pole 141 and brackets 15 may be provided for sup porting said base. Suitable foo'tboards or flooring may be aflixed to the base as indicated by the character '16 and the U-shap'ed member 8 may be supported on said flooring when the improved arrangement is in operative or extended position.

The cable terminal box 17 is associated with the pole 14 and supported thereon inthe customary manner. This box is of the usual construction and forms an enclosure for terminal binding posts which are suitably mounted therein.

It will be obvious that the lower binding posts within the cable terminal box may be readily reached by standing on the floor 16 of the cable balcony and that the binding posts positioned higher in said terminal box and not within reach may be made accessible by placing the improved support in an extended position. The distance between the lower and upper parallel links of the support can be so arranged elevation may be obtained.

The improved device can be secured safely to the uprights 12, 12 of the balcony by means of clamps which may be made from sections of angle irons. These angle iron sectlons may be any suitable combination, and are shown in the present instance, for the purpose of illustration, as being composed of elongated angle iron members 18.positioned on the outer corners of the uprights 12, 12 and smaller sections of angle iron members positioned on the inner corners of said uprights. The latter angle iron members may be divided into pairs comprising an upper section 19 and a lower section 20, for, each upright, as more clearly indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The outer corner angle iron members 18 and the inner lower angle members 20 are supported upon'the horizontal base 13 of the cable balcony to prevent their downward movement. Lateral movement of the support is prevented in an obvious manner. WVith the form of clamps provided it is not necessary to drill holes in the framework of the balcony and the labor of performing this work is thereby eliminated. Besides securing the links of the collapsible support, the bolts 7 7, placed through the clamps act as hinge pins about which the links may rotate and permit said support to swing upward and rest against the uprights 12 in collapsed position. The collapsible feature provides clearance for the doors of the cable terminal box which swing outward when opened. The support, in its folded position as shown in full lines of Fig. 3 of the drawings, may be secured to the uprights of the balcony by means of a sash chain and snap hook.

While the arrangement of this invention has been illustrated as embodied in a certain specific form and shown as applied to a cable terminal balcony, it will be understood that it is not limited to this specific construction or use. It is also adapted to be used in other forms and connections where an auxiliary supportis required with stands, platforms, steps, and the like.

Whatis claimed is:

1. The combination of a cable balcony having a platform, an auxiliary platform associated therewith, supporting members, pairs that any required of links movable in parallel relation with respect to each other and pivotally associated with the supporting members, said links being adapted to assume a folded position in parallel planes with respect to each other and an extended position, said platform being affixed to certain of said links and adapted to assume positions in accordance with the positions of all of said links, and a support for said platform in its extended position, said support bein pivotallyassociated with each pair of links and adapted to, be folded therewith;

2. The combination of a cable balcony having framework including uprights, a platform and an auxiliary platform, supporting members extending vertically from the first mentioned platform, clamping means for securing the supporting members to the uprights, an upper pair of links arranged in parallel relation with respect to each other,

and a lower pair of links arranged similarly to said first pair of links, each pair of links being pivotally associated with the clamping means for the supporting members and'being adapted to assume a folded position and an extended position, said links in their folded position being in parallel planes with re spect to each other, said auxiliary platform being affixed to the upper pair of links and adapted to assume positions in accordance with the positions of both pairs of links. 3. The combination of a cable balcony having framework including uprights, a platform and an auxiliary platform, supporting members extending vertically from the first mentioned platform, clamping means for securing the supporting members to the uprights, an upper pair of links arranged in parallel horizontal relation with respect to each other," a lower pair of links arranged similarly to said first pair of links, each pair of links being .pivotally associated with the clamping means for the supporting members and uprights and being adapted to assume a folded position in parallel planes with respect to each other and an extendedposition in:a parallel horizontal plane, said-auxiliary platformbeing aflixed to the upper pair of links and adapted to assume positions in accordance with the positions thereof, and a support for said platform in its extended position. 7

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 29th day of January, 1927.

HERBERT F. STOVER. 

